TORONTO – Almost all the restrictions launched in Ontario to fight the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted. From tomorrow the vaccination certificate will no longer be necessary to access indoor environments of non-essential activities. This is the most important change: this means that businesses, for example, will no longer be required to ask customers for proof of at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to allow entry. Stores, however, to ensure the safety of their staff and for the peace of mind it offers to their customers, can nevertheless continue to keep the vaccination certificate in force.
The obligation to be vaccinated remains, at least for now, in areas such as long-term care and health care. And from today they are also revoked in all other public indoor facilities.
The obligation to wear a mask remains in force, even if, both Prime Minister Ford and the Chief Medical Officer of Health of the province Kieran Moore, continue to indicate that this measure will soon be eliminated. Yesterday Ford hinted that the annulment of this measure could come after the March Break.
Moore said some time ago that when the time comes, the obligation to wear a mask will likely be lifted “simultaneously” in most industries. As a result, even children in schools would no longer be forced to wear masks.
And that’s not all. According to rumors, in the coming weeks the province could make changes or completely eliminate policies that require quarantine or vaccinations in some workplaces.
Although the lifting of these public health measures may be a relief for many Ontario residents, Dr. Peter Juni caution is still needed. The director of the Ontario Technical Scientific Committee, interviewed by CTV News Toronto said that it could be useful to reimpose some of these measures. “The point is that this will not be the end of the pandemic. I know very well that people do not want to hear it – he said – we just have to be aware of it, this is the reality. This virus will not immediately become endemic.”
And today new rules came into force that will make it easier and cheaper for Canadians to travel abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously upon returning to the country, Canadians had to undergo a molecular test while from today travelers can instead opt for a rapid antigen test – which is cheaper – as long as it is administered in a pharmacy, a laboratory, a health entity no more than a day before the departure or arrival flight.
The change is expected to make international travel a little easier, as rapid antigen test results can be available in 15 minutes and at a much lower cost than molecular testing. However, some public health experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of rapid antigen testing should Canada face another wave of Covid-19 infections. But even in this case the measures could be reintroduced if the pandemic worsens. In addition, fully vaccinated travelers selected for random testing at airports will no longer have to observe quarantine while waiting to know the test result.